The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-10-26
L,ncoln'sspeech at Gettysburg.

4 dav or two before the dedieati' n Of
the National cemetery at Gettysburg, Mr.
Lincoln told me that he would beexpect-
cd to make 8 speech on the occasion !;
that he was extremely busy, with no time
for preparation, and that he greatly fear
ed he would not be able to acquit him
self with credit, much less TO ill the
measure of public expectation. From
his hat ftne usual receptacle for his pri-
vate notes and memoranda) he drew
page of foolscap. closely written, which
he read me. first remarking that il was
Iaemoranduui Of what he had intended
to say 1t proved to be in substance, and
think hare verba, iar Was printed as
hi- Getty ysb,ir speech
After its delivery he expressed deep
regret thai he had not prepared ii with
greater care He said to me on the stand
immediately after concluding his speech,
"Lamon. that speech won't seour, tits a
fiat failure, and the people are disappoint-
ed He seemed more than ordinarily
concerned about what the people would
think Of it. was deeply impressed by
his frank and regretfi1l condemnation Of
the effort, and especially by his manner
ofexpressing that regret; and my own
impression was deepened by the fact that
the orator Of the day, Mr.. Everett. and
Mr.. Seward both conceded with Mr.. Lin
coin in bis unfayorable view Of its mer-
it,.
on the platform from which Mr.. Lin
coin had made lis address, and only
moment after its conclusion, Mr.. Seward
turned to Mr. Everett and asked him
what he thought Of the Presidents
speech. Mr.. Everett replied "It was
moi what expected from him. ! am
disappointed"
In his turn Mr. Everett asked "What
DO Won think Of it, Mr. Seward ?" The re-
sponse was: ale has made a failure.
and am sorry for it. His speech is not
equal to him" Mr., Seward then turned
TO me and asked "Mr Marshal what
do you think of it?" | answered Il
am sorry to say that it docs not impress
me a. one Of his great speeches.
In the face Of these facts it has been
repeatedly published that this speech
was received with great eclat by the aud
ience that amid the tears. sobs and
cheers ii produced in the excited throng,
the orator of the day, Mr Everett. turn
ed impulsively to Mr. Lincoln, grasped
his hand and exclaimed Il congratulate
YOU on your success adding in trans
port of heated enthusiasm All! Mr..
President, how gladly would I give my
hundred pages to be the author Of your
twenty lines
All this unworthy gush, it is needless
to say. Is purely apocryphal Nothing of
the kind occurred. As a matter of fact,
Mr. Linoolns great Gettysburg speech
fell on the vast audience like wet blan-
ket. At that time his reputation was
on the wane. The politicians
of the country-those of his own party,
together with large part Of the press
were casting about for an available can
didate 10 Toe his successor, while great
majority of the people were for him.
state j, as a fact, and without fear OF con-
tradiction. that his famous Gettysburgh
speech was not received or commented
upon with anything like hearty favor bv
the people, the politicians or the press of
the United States until after the death of
it, author Its marvellous perfection, its
intrinsic excellence as a masterpiece OF
English composition, seems TO have es-
capped the scrutiny of the most scholarly
critics and the wisest heads of the day.
on this side of the Atlantic That discOy-
cry was made, we must regretfully own,
by distinguished writers on the other
side. The London Spectator, The Sdiier-
day Retier, The Edinburg Rerier and
other European journals were the first to
discover, or at least to proclaim the clas-
sical merits Of the Gettysburg speech. II
was then that We began to realize that ii
WAS a masterpiece, and it then dawned
upon many minds that we had entertain
ed an angel unawares who had left us un-
appreciated.-IIard H. Lannon's Letter.
They say that the beautiful belle Of
Washington, Mis- -, uses cosmetics
but it is a vile SANDER She owes her
bloom to excellent health, and she keeps
we'll by using DR. Bulls Cough Syrup.
MnNu DoIifinoI Factor